In this section we discuss what employers are doing or what we should we say, NOT doing for expatriate property insurance needs for those on global assignment. We find the same problem on the international liability side of the equation. 75% of the expatriates we survey that are not in the insurance industry have a false belief that the employer is providing them with this coverage or at the very least, would step in with financial relief in the event of personal loss. This is almost never the case.

**NOTICE TO EXPATRIATES** In almost all instances, your Employer is not providing you and your family with overseas property insurance and cannot address your international liability insurance needs. Protecting you and your family from personal loss is your responsibility.

We would like to stress this point. There are both legal and tax reason why your employer cannot reimburse you for a property loss internationally in the even of fire, theft, smoke, earthquake, vandalism, etc. If you or any one of your family are sued or a court orders you to pay a damage award, there is no corporate insurance policy that will provide coverage. A few employers provide this insurance but at this time, most do not. The notion of "my company would step in" and take care of me is false!

The only one that can protect your family's financial future with sound personal property and liability insurance is you.

Unfortunately, Most Employers Don't Even Address These Needs With Expatriates.

Right now, we work with 20 of the Fortune 50 on these programs so employers can provide their employees with good solutions for international property and liability insurance before they leave. Providing potential expatriates with a voluntary solution also reinforces the point that the employer will not be there to rescue the employee in the event of loss, and if the employee takes no personal responsibility to secure international personal property and international liability insurance, the employee is on their own at the time of claim.

It is absolutely in the employers best interest to address these insurance needs before an expatriate assignment for two main reasons:

ONE: The more employees sign up for the international property and liability insurance, the more risk is removed from the employer. We have seen cases where the employer is pulled into a lawsuit and even named in the suit, because the employee did not carry personal liability insurance.

TWO: The offering of this voluntary program can avoid a great deal of headache after a claim, when the employee is expecting reimbursement and the company is in the uncomfortable position of denying the request.